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Hoenn field journalPokémon EmeraldGUIDES

Pokémon Emerald Rival: Every May, Brendan and Wally Battle

Your rival is Professor Birch’s child: May if you play as Brendan, Brendan if you play as May. They always pick the starter strong against yours, and in Emerald their teams can differ slightly depending on who you play as. Here are all 5 rival battles with the team for each starter, plus Wally’s battles.

Rival battles
5
Wally battles
2

Battle 1 Route 103

If you chose Treecko Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥300

TorchicTorchic 5

If you chose Torchic Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥300

MudkipMudkip 5

If you chose Mudkip Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥300

TreeckoTreecko 5

Battle 2 Rustboro City

The same battle can take place on Route 104 north of Rustboro instead, depending on where you run into your rival.

If you chose Treecko Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥900

LotadLotad 13TorchicTorchic 15

If you chose Torchic (playing as Brendan) Rival May · prize ¥900

TorkoalTorkoal 13MudkipMudkip 15

If you chose Mudkip Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥900

WingullWingull 13TreeckoTreecko 15

If you chose Torchic (playing as May) Rival Brendan · prize ¥900

SlugmaSlugma 13MudkipMudkip 15

Battle 3 Route 110

If you chose Treecko Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥1,200

WingullWingull 18LombreLombre 18CombuskenCombusken 20

If you chose Torchic Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥1,200

LombreLombre 18SlugmaSlugma 18MarshtompMarshtomp 20

If you chose Mudkip (playing as Brendan) Rival May · prize ¥1,200

WingullWingull 18SlugmaSlugma 18GrovyleGrovyle 20

If you chose Mudkip (playing as May) Rival Brendan · prize ¥1,200

SlugmaSlugma 18WingullWingull 18GrovyleGrovyle 20

Battle 4 Route 119

If you chose Treecko Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥1,860

PelipperPelipper 29LombreLombre 29CombuskenCombusken 31

If you chose Torchic Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥1,860

LombreLombre 29SlugmaSlugma 29MarshtompMarshtomp 31

If you chose Mudkip (playing as Brendan) Rival May · prize ¥1,860

SlugmaSlugma 29LombreLombre 29GrovyleGrovyle 31

If you chose Mudkip (playing as May) Rival Brendan · prize ¥1,860

SlugmaSlugma 29PelipperPelipper 29GrovyleGrovyle 31

Battle 5 Lilycove City

If you chose Treecko Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥2,040

TropiusTropius 31PelipperPelipper 32LudicoloLudicolo 32CombuskenCombusken 34

If you chose Torchic Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥2,040

TropiusTropius 31LudicoloLudicolo 32SlugmaSlugma 32MarshtompMarshtomp 34

If you chose Mudkip Rival May or Brendan · prize ¥2,040

TropiusTropius 31SlugmaSlugma 32PelipperPelipper 32GrovyleGrovyle 34

Wally

Mauville City Mauville City · prize ¥960

RaltsRalts 16

Victory Road 1F · prize ¥2,880

AltariaAltaria 47DelcattyDelcatty 46RoseliaRoselia 47MagnetonMagneton 44GardevoirGardevoir 48

Wally battles you at Mauville City with the Ralts you helped him catch, and again at the end of Victory Road.

FAQ

Which starter does the rival use in Emerald?

The one with a type advantage over yours: Torchic if you chose Treecko, Mudkip if you chose Torchic, Treecko if you chose Mudkip.

Is the rival May or Brendan?

Whichever character you did not pick. A few of their teams differ by one Pokémon depending on who you play as.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon and encounter chances, items, trainers, rematch teams, gifts, trades and shops come from the pret/pokeemerald decompilation. Maps and sprites © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Bulbagarden Archives; the Hoenn map is drawn from the game’s own PokéNav map graphics (listed on the image gallery).